Deputy Chief People Officer

  • Morgan Law
  • Teddington, Middlesex
  • Feb 19, 2026
Full time HR / Recruitment

Job Description

We are recruiting an experienced and values driven Deputy Chief People Officer to join us at a pivotal moment for our newly merged organisation. The Trust is now entering an exciting phase of transformation - creating a rare opportunity to make a meaningful and lasting impact on our people, culture and organisational direction. Working closely with the Chief People Officer and leaders across the organisation and the system, this senior role will also play a pivotal role in developing and implementing our people strategy for all our people, in line with our ambition to deliver the best care to patients across our communities across integrated pathways both within and outside the hospital, in line with the 10-Year Plan.

As a key member of the senior People leadership team, you will:
  • Play a lead role in driving forward the development and delivery of our People Strategy, working closely with the Chief People Officer and leaders across the organisation
  • Contribute to and shape long term strategic workforce priorities, ensuring our people agenda supports the Trust's future direction
  • Oversee core workforce functions including HR Business Partnering, Workforce Planning, EDI and Reward
  • Lead and manage the Trust's Employee Relations function, ensuring high quality, consistent and values based ER practice as well as best practice policy development and implementation
  • Drive innovation and proactive, strategic approaches to employee relations, promoting early intervention, improved culture and reduced escalation and taking innovative and leading edge approaches to improve quality and experience
  • Work with the Head of Employee Relations to provide expert guidance on complex and high risk ER matters, working closely with staff side colleagues
  • Lead major organisational development and cultural change programmes
  • Strengthen collaborative working across the South West London Integrated Care System
  • Champion an inclusive, compassionate and high performing workforce
What we're looking for
  • Significant experience in developing, influencing and delivering People Strategy at organisational level
  • Strong and extensive employee relations experience, including innovative and proactive ER approaches
  • A proven track record of leading large scale organisational change
  • Excellent stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to influence at Executive and Board level
  • Up to date knowledge of modern HR practice, NHS workforce challenges and UK employment legislation
  • A strong commitment to improving staff experience and embedding people centred cultures
  • Ideally, senior level experience within the NHS, or equivalent experience in a complex and unionised environment

This role offers an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious HR professional who aspires to become a future Chief People Officer. You will gain extensive strategic exposure, system level experience and the chance to shape the workforce and culture of a newly formed, forward looking organisation.

If you want to make a genuine difference and help drive the next phase of transformation at Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust, we would be delighted to hear from you.